Dos to make the year more productive

2009 has sadly been one of the least productive years in memory, and not just for the wider economy; my private finances have taken a hit too.

This year's spending has shot through the roof, thanks to impulse shopping, annual holidays, special occasions and the high cost of living, which — apart from property rent — hasn't noticeably eased. It pains to see how the hoped-for nest egg is hardly multiplying!

So, to start off the New Year on the right foot financially, I've prepared a list of nifty habits. These are all pretty basic habits, and mainly involve scrimping here and there. But if followed scrupulously, the next 12 months should turn out to be a fruitful year.

First off, let's nip and tuck the painful cost of transportation. Unlike many of you who regularly drive your own cars, yours truly is a habitual taxi rider. It's one bad habit that's hard to break, especially since cabbies are just a phone call away and it's pretty relaxing to have someone chauffeur you around, so to speak.

But even a single ride can cost as much as my friend's weekly petrol consumption, and essentially wrecks havoc on my wallet in the long run. So in lieu of the good old cab, this hopeless commuter will just have to get used to taking the shiny new Metro. After all, a single train trip costs only a little over Dh4, compared to the taxi fare that averages Dh20 to Dh40 a trip!

Love second-hand

When it comes to clothes and other living essentials, I think I pretty have much everything I need already. So next year's mantra will be to stick with the old and forget the new. After all, fashionistas always say it's easy to create a new look with your old clothes by mixing and matching, so why update the wardrobe? I've got to learn to love second-hand! If I do feel the need for a real change, I'd rather hit the bargain racks, thrift stores and garage or warehouse sales.

When I go grocery shopping, I will be on the constant lookout for brand-less items. Who says only high-end names are cool? Since the start of the recession, being frugal has actually been synonymous with being hip. So, there's no reason to feel embarrassed if the shopping cart will be stuffed with never-heard-of in-house goodies.

I know how to cook, so can do away with the greasy, fattening meals that I tend to feed on. I can spend a few dirhams on home-cooked, wholesome foods that are not laden with stuff that are so not health-friendly anyway.

Back to nutritious eating, and no more commercially-prepared lunches at work.

Deciding to be frugal means not eating out so much. I still have a thick pile of Gulf News' Good Living vouchers, so I'll definitely put them to good use on days when I'm too lazy to use the kitchen. And that need not be very often.

So there you have it, my resolutions in brief: pinching the pennies, nothing fancy, just a bit of discipline with the dirhams. Hopefully you can come up with your own goals to make next year better than 2009. A prosperous New Year to everyone.